As we seem to be continuing this subject I would like to add my total agreement to the comments about not replying if there is nothing positive to contribute to the subject. My own threads have been responded to with constructive replies which have led to further interesting comments.
To respond with just a 'smilie' or a 'yup' seems to me to be pointless. Having said that, it proves that someone out there is listening and should be persuaded to contribute further with information from their own experience.
The value of the forum is to be able to learn from others, particularly for someone like me who rarely gets the opportunity to meet with like minded modellers. I have learned so much from my communication with others that I felt confident enough to build my own railway and even show it to invited guests.
My observations lead me to believe there are some members who only follow certain threads and overlook others completely. Many subjects seem to be of little or no interest to some, therefore miss out on responses. Personally, I read every new posting daily but only reply to the ones which I feel I can add to in a positive or constructive way. Equally, by responding in a negative way, some contributors may be inclined to think they will not put themselves in that position again and therefore leave the Forum completely.
I will have nothing to do with Facebook so anything posted there is lost on me and a loss to the Forum.
As someone who has no interest in video whatsoever, I picked this item out from the front page list of active posts. Thus I would never have seen it in the normal scheme of things, as like many I only access headings of interest to me personally.
While (probably) the last few postings might have been read by a wider membership had they been placed under a non specialist heading, they do raise some interesting questions. I belong to quite a few forums covering three distinct hobbies. Thus I scan the forums daily for threads of interest to me under the subject headings associated with my main areas of interests. For example I have no interest in live steam locos, so why would I access that heading. I do however have an interest in steam engine construction allied to powering large model boats. Different forums, different interests. About an hour a day is for me sufficient time to spend on the forums. To those who have the available time and the wider general interest to read and respond to all of the daily posts different pattern of usage will apply. We are after all individuals and no amount of discussion will change that one iota.
As for the Facebook fad. Never used it and never will. Time is far to valuable and machine and data security here is paramount. As for Yahoo Groups the less said the better.
Narrow Minded wrote:
Very interesting comments Andy, and since this hasn't "moved" to a separate thread I'll quite happily reply here.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, and for me, from the above it's quite obvious that the attitude is more "What's in it for me", rather than "How can I contribute".Hi,
you were under no obligation to reply, I was setting out my view in reply to other contributions earlier in the thread. After all a forum is a meeting to exchange views.
Members may leave this forum for a number of reasons but a common complaint from both forums and yahoo groups members and similar, in my experience at least, is being overwhelmed by the less helpful comments that seem to have little benefit to anyone but the commenter's post statistics.
People may have a fit of enthusiasm when taking up forum membership but this can cool quite quickly. The reason for this could be a problem with their expectations rather than the day to day operation of the forum.
This forum used to be a very lively place where everyone could find inspiration, motivation, advice and the je ne sais quoi that made for a "community spirit". Now, it seems that it's treated like some free Emagazine, to be picked up whenever and thumbed through just for articles of interest to the reader, with absolutely no interest at all in what "fellow members" of the forum are up to. (Yes, "fellow members" of your forum, not "contributors")
I can only suppose that the newer membership are quite happy with the current state of the forum, and it's only us dinosaurs who remember "the good old days" and make unfavourable comparisons.
I much appreciate the "Thank You's" Zach and Chris, (and I feel for you Chris having spent the time and effort building up your excellent Mamod/MSS information collection on here, only to have it ignored and now "hijacked" by the new dedicated web page!)
Also thanks Matt, but I see that to date, the inevitable has happened, with absolutely no continuity of the video competition despite the best of intentions.
I've just carried out a little "experiment" over on my Railways & Layouts thread over the last 24hrs.
I posted a Christmas Greetings photo (with no accompanying text).
It's November, but no comments about being little too early.
There's snow, but no comments about the possibility of snow to come.
There's a Thomas face, which received one comment (from a friend)
The loco has long gone from the W&L, commented upon by another friend.
24hrs, 360 views and 2 comments (and I've seen all the posts made during that time so know who has been actively "on" the forum)
I hope this answers the question "why" I don't bother posting anymore.
